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In A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA people in Nebraska wholeheartedly welcome refugees and show that the newcomers enrich their communities, their economies, and their lives.
In 2020, with America's Refugee Resettlement Program hanging by a thread, A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA is the story of midwestern welcome, acceptance, and unlikely friendships during a time of national anxiety and emboldened bigotry. In 2016, the conservative state of Nebraska resettled more refugees per capita than any other state.
A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA spotlights people who escaped war, torture and persecution. It also introduces the generous Nebraskans who welcomed them, taught them, celebrated with them, and helped them find jobs and houses. Today these refugees are succeeding, and are giving back to the communities that supported them.
This heartwarming documentary by Beth and George Gage (American Outrage, Bidder 70) offers hope and an antidote to racist nationalism: communities of people in Nebraska who work to dispel fear, build bridges and change their own perceptions along the way. Here is a compelling portrait of ordinary people standing up for what is right, inspiring us to do the same.
69 minutes
SDH Captioned
Directed by Beth Gage, George Gage
Produced by Gage & Gage Productions
Story: Beth Gage
Editor:Zen Rosenthal, William Lehman
Cinematography: George Gage
Original Music: Didier Leplae
Songs: Alex Ebert
Sound Designer: John Reese
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COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (single events with license to charge admission) |
"Very informative...highlight[s] a community welcoming newcomers, building bridges, creating hopeful futures, and dispelling fear while combating the hatred of racist nationalism...Highly recommended."
Larry Gleeson, HollywoodGlee
"This documentary is an important reminder that 'welcoming the stranger' can benefit everyone, across party lines and religious affiliations. Communities like these in Nebraska play a vital role in ensuring that refugees are welcomed in the United States. At the same time, the documentary shows clearly the vital role refugees play in giving back to them. The refugees featured in the documentary, like IRAP's former client Fred, who saved American lives in Afghanistan, show us what we're missing out on if we close our doors to them."
Nisha Agarwal, Deputy Executive Director, International Refugee Assistance Project
"A touching film about the current plight of refugees in the United States. Though the focus is Nebraska, it is reminiscent of the issues in several communities throughout the country. Short scenes and testimonies would be applicable for the classroom."
Matthew Good, Librarian, Educators' Institute of Human Rights
"A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA is an essential introduction to refugee resettlement in the U.S., a frequently-debated, yet commonly-misunderstood phenomenon. The film sets the record straight on refugee resettlement, challenges stereotypes, and highlights the painful impacts of the Trump administration on refugees, their families, and host communities alike. It can highlight the interconnectedness of our world, and our personal and collective responsibilities in creating spaces of safety and belonging for the over 79 million people who are currently displaced from their homes worldwide."
Dr. Nicole Pettitt, Assistant Professor of English and World Languages, Youngstown State University
"A poignant and visually stunning account of the refugee journeys. The voices in the film amplify the plight of the globally displaced, most of whom remain unseen and unheard. These are the stories of America and the storied, multicolored threads that make America what it is, and what it can still be."
Khatharya Um, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies, University of California-Berkeley, Author, From the Land of Shadows: War, Revolution and the Making of the Cambodian Diaspora
"Inspiring...This film is particularly relevant right now, as the country starts to look at what divides and unites us as Americans, following the elections. In the end, and deep down, we are not that different from one another, despite religion, place of birth, or political affiliation. As we look forward to rebuilding the infrastructure to help more refugees to resettle in the US, materials such as this film will be invaluable in approaching potential host communities with a realistic picture of refugee resettlement."
Erol Kekic, Director, Immigration and Refugee Program, Church World Service
"Warm, optimistic...These refugees and their hosts remain determined to persevere. This upbeat program is a portrait of Americans at their best."
Candace Smith, Booklis